ASKED TO WITHDRAW

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 10

ASKED TO WITHDRAW

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL IN A QUANDRY.

. The members of the Hutt County Council found themselves in a quandry at yesterday’s meeting of that body. W hen Councillor M. W. Welch took his accustomed sent the chairman (Mr. J- Barclay) asked him to vacate it, as he was, ipso facto, no longer a member of the council. Councillor Welch had, stated the chairman, sold his property, and at the previous meeting of the council a resolution had been adopted striking him off tho ratepayers’ roll. By virtue of this he was ineligible to sit at the council table. Mr. Welch demurred, but left the room, only to return later to his seat at the table. He said he disagreed with the chairman’s ruling, and he further disputed the accuracy of the minute relative to striking his name off the roll. In any case, he was still a ratepayer, seeing that he had paid rates on his former property to the end of the financial year, and since the last meeting had leased another property in the county, nnd had had his name placed on the roll. Furthcnnorfi, he had been notified to attend that day’s sitting of the council, tho notice being addressed to "Councillor Welch.” He failed to see what good purpose could bo accomplished by the chairman—who was strongly backed up by Councillor Atkinson—persisting in his ruling, as in the event of his being disqualified he would contest the by-elec-tion. It would only put the ratepayers to needless expense. As Mr. Welch was disposed to remain and take part in the meeting, Councillor Atkinson remarked: “Very well, let him attend the meeting as a councillor. He is only laying himself open to a penalty ... x Mr. Welch: "All right, I will attend the meeting simply as a ratepayer.” Suiting his action to his words, he retired from the table, and subsequently appeared in the role of a ratepayer in support of- a deputation. Tho council decided to obtain legal advice as to tho exact standing of Mr. Welch.